Auckland v Tasman

[KiwiMurph]

Ruru starting and Papali'i not starting. Hmmm.

Top-of-the-table clash looms as Tasman come to town (match day programme)

Both Auckland and Tasman are currently unbeaten Patrick Tuipulotu makes his return in the blue and white hoops ...

Auckland team to play Ta$man:

Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
Robbie Abel (College Rifles)
Marcel Renata (University)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby)
Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
Blake Gibson - Captain (Ponsonby)
Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
Jonathan Ruru (University)
Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
TJ Faiane (Pakuranga)
Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
Marco Fepulea'i (Ponsonby)
Fa'atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
Dalton Papali'i (Pakuranga)
Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
Jacob Umaga (Eden)
Tanielu Tele'a (Marist)

[Tim]

Will be good to have a look at Talea. Is he on a full-time or development contract with the Blues for 209?

[KiwiMurph]

@tim I believe a full contract. His signing was announced alongside Plummer and Sotutu.

[Frank]

Top of the table clash - let's bench the best performing player.

[Dice]

Risky move having Papali'i and Fukofuka on the bench.

We're facing the best team in the comp and coming off a 8 day break, I would've just went with our best 15.

[Duluth]

@dice said in Auckland v Ta$man:

Risky move having Papali'i and Fukofuka on the bench.

We're facing the best team in the comp and coming off a 8 day break, I would've just went with our best 15.

..and another long gap before the next game

[Dice]

@duluth yeah, it's a weird one. Those two aren't exactly guys who need rests either since they've missed a good chunk of the season through injury.

[Chris B.]

Ta$man team - similar to last week except we don't have Perry or Frizell (Crockett and HaviliS come into the starting XV) and Makalio and Aumua are rotated to the bench (Niuia and Nankivell start).

Starting XV a bit weaker than last week, but some firepower on the bench.

[Nepia]

@chris-b That's quite a cool team naming video - the reserves put more effort in than some of the starters though.

[Chris B.]

@nepia Yeah - better than most. Christie and Hunt also making good efforts.

[chchfanatic]

That’s a great backline. Better than most super teams

[Nepia]

@chchfanatic said in Auckland v Ta$man:

That’s a great backline. Better than most super teams

That's a bit of hyperbole don't you think? Which of the 'most Super teams' do you think that backline is better than?

[KiwiMurph]

With Auckland putting Papali'i on the bench i'm pleased Ta$man aren't starting Makalio and Aumua.

[chchfanatic]

@nepia sorry grammar police. Crusaders and hurricanes are definitely stronger, but not too many more.

[Nepia]

@chchfanatic said in Auckland v Ta$man:

@nepia sorry grammar police. Crusaders and hurricanes are definitely stronger, but not too many more.

Nothing to do with grammar, there's no way that backline is better than most of the Super backlines.

Reserve (R) Super Rugby (SR) at 9, R SR at 10, 12 who is a better SR 15, barely R SR at 13, barely SR R at 14, guy whose been injured all year.

[chchfanatic]

@nepia reds , rebels , brumbies , sunwolves, bulls , sharks. That’s most isn’t it

[KiwiMurph]

@chchfanatic 6 out of 15....most....

[cgrant]

You can add the Lions and the Blues to that list.

[shark]

@chchfanatic said in Auckland v Ta$man:

@nepia reds , rebels , brumbies , sunwolves, bulls , sharks. That’s most isn’t it

You should be embarrassed 😳

[chchfanatic]

@shark embarrassed really. I was being nice to the likes of the highlanders , chiefs , Waratahs , whatever the 4th SA team is. What I was trying to say is it’s a pretty good backline that wouldn’t look out of place in super rugby. This is a anonymous forum so not sure I would ever get embarrassed about anything I say. Bit of fun really.